Management apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The management apparatus receives first designation on a file and second designation of an image forming apparatus. The management apparatus obtains information from the image forming apparatus designated by the second designation in accordance with the first designation. The management apparatus outputs a file including the obtained information. Information of the image forming apparatus designated by the second designation includes network information of the image forming apparatus, a communication date and time, a connection state, apparatus information corresponding to the type received by the first designation, and page count information not designated by the type received by the first designation. When obtainment of information complying with the first designation fails, the output file includes both information representing an error of the connection state, and page count information previously obtained from the image forming apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A management apparatus comprising,
 at least one memory storing instructions, and 
 at least one processor executing the instructions causing the management apparatus to: 
 receive a first designation of one of a cycle or a schedule at which a file is output, a type of apparatus information that should be included in the file, and a format of the file, wherein the file includes information regarding an image forming apparatus; 
 receive a second designation of an image forming apparatus subjected to obtain the information regarding the image forming apparatus from at least one image forming apparatus; and 
 perform reporting processes iteratively at the cycle or the schedule designated in the first designation, each reporting process including: 
 communicating with the image forming apparatus designated by the second designation to obtain the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; 
 generating and outputting the file including the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; and 
 storing page count information, included in the information obtained from the designated image forming apparatus, indicating a number of pages printed by the designated image forming apparatus; 
 wherein the file includes, as the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus, network information of the designated image forming apparatus, a communication date and time with the designated image forming apparatus, a connection state with the designated image forming apparatus, the apparatus information corresponding to the type designated by the first designation, and the page count information, 
 wherein when obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus fails, a number of the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information has failed is counted, and in the output of the file, the file including the number of the designated image forming apparatuses, information representing an error of the connection state with the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails, and page count information previously obtained from the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails is output, and 
 wherein the file output in a respective reporting process does not include the count information obtained in a previous reporting process but includes the count information obtained in a current reporting process from a first image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is obtained in the current reporting process, and 
 wherein the file output in the respective reporting process includes the count information obtained in a previous reporting process from a second image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is not obtained in the current reporting process. 
 
     
     
       2. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the management apparatus to display an output result of the file and display, as the output result, information of the number of image forming apparatuses for which obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus has failed. 
     
     
       3. The management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the management apparatus to display, as the output result, the number of the designated image forming apparatuses. 
     
     
       4. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the format of the file is selectable from CSV and XML. 
     
     
       5. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the schedule is selected and set from every month, every week, and every day. 
     
     
       6. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a file name of the file for the designated image forming apparatus changes at every timing. 
     
     
       7. The management apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the file name represents a generation time of the file. 
     
     
       8. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second designation includes designation of at least two image forming apparatuses, and
 the file includes: 
 the obtained page count information for an image forming apparatus for which obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus at a first timing is successful; and 
 for an image forming apparatus for which obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus at the first timing has failed, the page count information obtained at a second timing before the first timing according to one of the cycle or the schedule, and information representing that the obtainment of the information has failed. 
 
     
     
       9. The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the management apparatus to provide a user with a user interface to receive the first designation, wherein the user interface does not receive designation of whether the file to be output includes the count information. 
     
     
       10. A method for a management apparatus comprising:
 receiving a first designation of one of a cycle or a schedule at which a file is output, a type of apparatus information that should be included in the file, and a format of the file, wherein the file includes information regarding an image forming apparatus; 
 receiving a second designation of an image forming apparatus subjected to obtain the information regarding the image forming apparatus from at least one image forming apparatus; and 
 performing reporting processes iteratively at the cycle or the schedule designated in the first designation, each reporting process including:
 communicating with the image forming apparatus designated by the second designation to obtain information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; 
 generating and outputting the file including the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; and 
 storing page count information, included in the information obtained from the designated image forming apparatus, indicating a number of pages printed by the designated image forming apparatus; 
 
 wherein the file includes, as the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus, network information of the designated image forming apparatus, a communication date and time with the designated image forming apparatus, a connection state with the designated image forming apparatus, the apparatus information corresponding to the type designated by the first designation, and the page count information, 
 wherein when obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus fails, a number of the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information has failed is counted, and in the outputting the file, the file includes the number of the designated image forming apparatuses, information representing an error of the connection state with the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails, and page count information previously obtained from the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails is output, 
 wherein the file output in a respective reporting process does not include the count information obtained in a previous reporting process but includes the count information obtained in a current reporting process from a first image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is obtained in the current reporting process, and 
 wherein the file output in a respective reporting process includes the count information obtained in a previous reporting process from a second image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is not obtained in the current reporting process. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a method for a management apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving a first designation of one of a cycle or a schedule at which a file is output, a type of apparatus information that should be included in the file, and a format of the file, wherein the file includes information regarding an image forming apparatus; 
 receiving a second designation of an image forming apparatus subjected to obtain the information regarding the image forming apparatus from at least one image forming apparatus; and 
 performing reporting processes iteratively at the cycle or the schedule designated in the first designation, each reporting process including:
 communicating with the image forming apparatus designated by the second designation to obtain information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; 
 generating and outputting the file including the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus; and 
 storing page count information, included in the information obtained from the designated image forming apparatus, indicating a number of pages printed by the designated image forming apparatus, 
 
 wherein the file includes, as the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus, network information of the designated image forming apparatus, a communication date and time with the designated image forming apparatus, a connection state with the designated image forming apparatus, the apparatus information corresponding to the type designated by the first designation, and the page count information, 
 wherein when obtainment of the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus fails, a number of the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information has failed is counted, and in the outputting the file, the file includes the number of the designated image forming apparatuses, information representing an error of the connection state with the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails, and page count information previously obtained from the designated image forming apparatus from which the obtainment of the information fails is output, 
 wherein the file output in a respective reporting process does not include the count information obtained in a previous reporting process but includes the count information obtained in a current reporting process from a first image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is obtained in the current reporting process, and 
 wherein the file output in a respective reporting process includes the count information obtained in a previous reporting process from a second image forming apparatus from which the information regarding the designated image forming apparatus is not obtained in the current reporting process.